The Ultimate Ranking Of Sour Cream Brands
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If you've grown up in an Eastern European home, then there is one ingredient you cannot take for granted — sour cream. It's almost the birthright of anyone born there. Indeed, according to SPICEography, the likely origin of this luscious ingredient is Russia, and their version of it is named smetana. Smetana is thought to be based upon a fermented Mongolian drink made of horse's milk called kumis, which has been described as being somewhat similar to kefir. It was likely a by-product of people leaving raw milk out at room temperature for too long a period of time and seeing it curdle once it had been exposed to bacteria.
Modern day sour cream is made by combining pasteurized cow's milk cream with lactic acid, and allowing it to ferment (via Medicine Net). While sour cream now comes in a variety of different options — mostly varying in fat content — classic full-fat sour cream typically contains 18 percent fat. Health benefits aside, the biggest difference between using full or low-fat sour cream has to do with how well it can be substituted in recipes both for flavor and texture.
With that said, we sought to determine what the best sour cream options are. We looked at everything from popularity and reviews to the history and culture of the manufacturers. And finally, we incorporated our own biases based upon flavor as well as efficacy in a variety of dishes. The following is our ranking of the top 12 sour creams from our least to most favorite.
12. Great Value
It's no surprise that we included Great Value Original Sour Cream on our list of top sour creams. Strictly speaking, from statistics based upon the top brands of sour cream purchased by consumers, store brand sour creams rank second highest on the list (via Statista). There's also the fact that Walmart's Great Value brand, like many other store brand food items, are actually manufactured by its brand name counterparts, per NCESC.com. While we could not ascertain who actually produces Great Value brand sour cream, Great Value brand milk comes from its own dairy farm in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Great Value brand yogurt is manufactured by Danone.
These facts aside, reviews for Great Value sour cream are all over the map. It has a Google ranking of 3.6 out of 5 stars with over 400 reviews. The two most consistent complaints were that the container size advertised did not match what was actually received when ordered, and that the texture is lacking, or more specifically clumpy. That being said, the cost savings appear to outweigh a lot of the negative reviews, therefore we included it here at the bottom of our list.
11. Kirkland Signature
Next on our list of top sour creams we included is Kirkland Signature Sour Cream, which is the brand name version of sour cream produced by Costco. Again, like other store brand versions of products, many of Kirkland's products are manufactured by its brand name competitors, but sold at up to 20 percent lower prices. This makes it an obvious option for those looking to save money on their grocery bills.
Our biggest issue with purchasing the Kirkland Signature brand is that it is typically sold two at a time, and each container is a 16 ounce container. Even 16 ounces is a lot of sour cream to use up in a timely fashion, unless you are feeding a small army or a large family. Additionally, while freezing sour cream is safe, the negative impact on texture due to freezing it may make it inedible, at least in its raw format (via Healthline). However, if you are planning to use it in baking, frozen sour cream can be just fine. For a low cost, decent quality alternative to some of the bigger brand name sour creams, Kirkland Signature may be a perfectly suitable option.
10. ALDI Friendly Farms
Yet another store brand that ranks consistently high in the value department is ALDI Friendly Farms Sour Cream. ALDI seems to have a bit of a cult-following with many people swearing by its quality products and unique business model. Established in 1961 in Germany by the Albrecht family, its first location in the U.S. was opened in 1976 in Iowa (via ALDI). It is now headquartered in Batavia, Illinois, and it has over 2,000 stores in the U.S alone.
The first discount store in Germany, its focus has always been on a "no-frills" approach. By hand curating and selecting its products carefully, it is able to provide the highest quality at the lowest possible price. The simple and compact store layout, presenting brands in their original shipping containers, and not having additional services, like a pharmacy or bank, also help to cut back on staff and overhead costs, which converts to consumer savings.
While several reviews on Facebook and on various budget sites had nice things to say about this sour cream, one reviewer on Reddit wasn't a fan, saying it was more like congealed milk than sour cream. However, if price and ease of shopping is important, we think ALDI is a great value option.
9. Organic Valley
Our first organic option on this list is Organic Valley Sour Cream. It is manufactured using certified organic pastured milk and cream, has no antibiotics, no hormones, no toxic pesticides, and is certified non-GMO. First established in 1988 in the Coulee region of Wisconsin, this co-op of family farms was assembled as a protest against the push for farmers to go big or go home (via Organic Valley). Corporate farms insisted that small farms couldn't survive, so these family farms banded together to begin what became known as CROPP, or the Coulee Region Organic Produce Pool. This eventually grew into Organic Valley and its mission to produce high quality, low environmental impact foods has remained strong.
Organic Valley has consistent ratings on Google, ranking at 4.5 out of 5 stars. More than anything, people love that as far as organic dairy is concerned, the prices for this sour cream aren't all that cost-prohibitive. A couple of the reviews remarked on the fact that the sour cream separated easily. Having a fair amount of experience with organic dairy ourselves, this is not uncommon as there generally aren't any preservatives added to homogenize the product. We thought it had a great texture and a mild sour flavor, although we tend to prefer our sour cream a bit tangier.
8. Hood
One of the lesser known but surprisingly popular brands of sour cream out there is the Hood brand (via Statista). Hood dairy has been around since 1846, when founder Harvey P. Hood took a break from delivering milk and opened his own dairy operation, per Hood. Hood has always focused on quality, insisting upon only sourcing milk from farmers committed to sustainability, animal welfare, and not using artificial growth hormones. Its environmental commitment goes beyond focusing upon resource conservation — it includes research and development into imaginative packaging, like their trademarked LightBlock Bottle.
Of the more than 250 Google reviews this brand has received garnering it a 4.6 out of 5 stars, the most common term used for it is "affordable." Consumers praise its consistency, noting its on the thicker side and perhaps less creamy than some of the other more popular brands. Its flavor is mild and not overly sour. For a brand with a legacy of responsible stewardship, this is a great option.
7. Land O'Lakes
Land O'Lakes Sour Cream is next on our list. The company began in 1921 with the concept of becoming a dairy cooperative (via Land O'Lakes Foodservice). Now over 1,000 dairies strong, its commitment to sustainability and the power of working together has proven to be a reliable and lucrative business model. Its motto is "farm to fork," and its means of achieving this is through its focus on making certain that its farmers, animals, and land management are consistently top notch.
All of this has played out in its overall performance. It is ranked fourth in the U.S. in terms of the top selling sour cream brands, per Statista. Part of its initiative to change with the times and to meet customer needs has involved the expansion of its e-commerce options as well as the introduction of new, healthier versions of its products (via Land O'Lakes, Inc). Its sour cream consistently ranks well, although where it truly is a leader is in its butter division, which is why we ranked this sour cream where we did.
6. Kraft Breakstone's
Kraft Breakstone's Full Fat Sour Cream is next on our list, even though it is the third most frequently purchased sour cream in the U.S. according to Statista. The legacy of this brand dates back to 1882. It was the brainchild of Lithuanian brothers Joseph and Isaac Breakstone, who had a dairy store on the lower east side of New York. A unique aspect to this brand is its longstanding prominence within the Jewish community (via OU Kosher). Its sour cream has long been certified OU Kosher, making it an important part of the diets of observant and non-observant members of the Jewish community alike.
Its reviews are quite impressive, scoring at 4.7 out of 5 stars on Google. Customers are loyal to the brand, noting its consistent creaminess. The handful of detractors stated that it isn't as thick as some of the other brand name competitors that are popular, and that its flavor was less tangy. That being said, it's a great way to go.
5. Tillamook
When we talk about stewards of the land and a commitment to quality, Tillamook Cultured Sour Cream comes to mind. Its commitment to "Dairy Done Right" has been a part of Tillamook's mission since its beginnings in Oregon in 1909 as a cooperative of creameries under the umbrella of the name Tillamook County Creamery Association (via Tillamook). Its products have always been manufactured using all natural dairy with no added fillers or sugar.
When its sour cream was introduced in 1993, there was no doubt that this legacy would continue. Indeed it has, with its operations expanding into an even larger facility to accommodate its growth. And if product quality wasn't enough to convince us to buy its products, it is also incredibly generous with its resources, having donated over a million dollars to the American Farmland Trust, a non-profit entity designed to help farmers keep their land.
Impressive bio aside, what matters is the taste and quality of this sour cream, which we are pleased to say lives up to its corporate ideals. It ranks a solid 4.8 out of 5 stars on Google, with consumers noting that it is just the right blend of creamy and sour. Its consistency is also popular, with reviewers stating that it doesn't get watery after standing in the refrigerator for awhile.
4. Knudsen Hampshire
No list of the best sour creams would be complete without Knudsen Hampshire Sour Cream. This was the sour cream we grew up knowing as the most like what you could find in the "old country." Founded in 1919 by brothers Tom and Carl Knudsen, the Knudsen brand has been focused on creating the highest quality, most natural dairy products possible (via Knudsen). Its operations have been centralized in California, with its dairy suppliers just miles from its creameries. As its website states, "with all that farm-freshness, there's no need to add any weird stuff." We couldn't say it any better.
Consumer reviews agree, as it scores a 4.8 out of 5 stars with over 700 ratings on Amazon. The most common feature noted was that this is a very thick sour cream, and that it does tend to separate after being in the refrigerator for awhile. Its flavor is tangy without being overly sour, but if you prefer a slightly creamier texture, you may opt for a different brand.
3. 365 Whole Foods Market Organic Lowfat
While we rarely recommend using low-fat alternatives to full-fat sour cream due to the distinct change in texture that occurs the moment you begin taking fat out of the equation, no list would be complete without including at least one low-fat option. One that consistently scores high marks is 365 Whole Foods Organic Lowfat Sour Cream. It contains half the amount of fat as its full fat alternative, but it also contains a number of stabilizers to help give it a better texture. That may be a fair trade off for someone watching their fat intake.
According to Forbes, the Whole Foods 365 brand has undergone quite an evolution since its acquisition by Amazon in 2017. At that time the 365 brand wasn't sold at Whole Foods stores, but rather it was available in value markets under the name "365: Everyday Value." These stores were designed to offer prepared foods and 365 items at discounted prices in an effort to compete with Whole Foods' perception of being overpriced. Ever heard of the moniker "Whole Paycheck?"
One thing Amazon is good at is identifying something that isn't working, and Whole Foods' perception as being too expensive was a problem. In an effort to rebrand its image, all of the 365 Stores were converted into Whole Foods markets, prices across the board were lowered, and the 365 brand items were incorporated into the stores as the store brand equivalent to name brand products.
2. Kalona Super Natural
Ranking as our top organic brand of sour cream is Kalona Super Natural Organic Sour Cream. Kalona Super Natural was founded in Kalona, Iowa, by Bill Evans in 2005 (via Kalona Super Natural). His mission was to produce dairy products using minimal processing with milk sourced from predominantly small Amish and Mennonite family farms. All of the cattle on these farms are grass-fed year-round on pastures that are certified pesticide-free and non-GMO. They are also never given hormones or antibiotics.
But what really sets Kalona Super Natural apart is its minimal processing pledge. What this means is that its milk is never pasteurized at high temperatures nor is it homogenized. When you purchase its milk or sour cream, it is often separated, with the cream rising to the top. This may seem like an odd feature if you have never consumed non-homogenized dairy products before, but it is very normal. All you have to do is shake the milk or stir the sour cream and it is ready to eat.
We can attest to its quality, although this sour cream has the texture of a soft cheese, which takes some getting used to. Amazon reviews back us up, as this sour cream scores a 4.8 out of 5 stars with over 550 ratings. The only downside to this brand is that it has a shorter shelf-life than its competitors and it is on the pricey side. However, in this case, you get what you pay for.
1. Daisy
Coming in at number one on our list of favorite sour creams is the top selling brand in the U.S. – Daisy Sour Cream (via Statista). Daisy has been producing pure, natural sour cream since its horse and buggy days in Chicago, beginning in 1917 (via Daisy). It only manufactures two products, sour cream and cottage cheese, something unusual in an industry that appears to thrive on the diversification of a company's portfolio for profitability. Maybe that's their secret to success.
Indeed, it has impressive reviews with legions of fans. It scores a 4.8 out of 5 stars on Google with over 5,000 reviews. People rave about its flavor, texture, value, and consistency. Additionally, several reviews note that it is made without any additives, making it ideal for those following strict diets due to allergies. Regardless of what you plan on using it for, we definitely agree that you make good food better with a dollop of Daisy.